Tanzanian shilling

Last updated
Tanzanian shilling
Shilingi za Kitanzania (Swahili)
1000 tz shillings front.jpg Bank of Tanzania golden hour.jpg
1,000/= noteThe Bank of Tanzania headquarters in Dar es Salaam
ISO 4217
CodeTZS (numeric:834)
Subunit 0.01
Denominations
Subunit
1100 cent
Banknotes500/=, 1,000/=, 2,000/=, 5,000/=, 10,000/=
Coins50/=, 100/=, 200/=, 500/=
Demographics
User(s)Flag of Tanzania.svg  Tanzania
Issuance
Central bank Bank of Tanzania
Website Bank of Tanzania website
Valuation
Inflation 5.6%
Source The World Factbook , 2015 est.

The shilling (Swahili: shilingi; abbreviation: TSh; code: TZS) is the currency of Tanzania. It is subdivided into 100 cents (senti in Swahili). The Tanzanian shilling replaced the East African shilling on 14 June 1966 at par. [1]

Contents

Notation

Prices in the Tanzanian shilling are written in the form of x/y, where x is the amount above 1 shilling, while y is the amount in cents. An equals sign or hyphen represents zero amount. For example, 50 cents is written as "-/50" and 100 shillings as "100/=" or "100/-". Sometimes the abbreviation TSh is prefixed for distinction. If the amount is written using words as well as numerals, only the prefix is used (e.g. TSh 10 million).

This pattern was modelled on sterling's pre-decimal notation, in which amounts were written in some combination of pounds (£), shillings (s), and pence (d, for denarius). In that notation, amounts under a pound were notated only in shillings and pence.

Coins

200/= obverse 200 tz shillings front.jpg
200/= obverse

In 1966, coins were introduced in denominations of -/5, -/10, -/20 and -/50 and 1/=, with the -/5 struck in bronze, the -/10 in nickel-brass (copper-nickel-zinc) and the -/50 and 1/= in cupro-nickel. Cupro-nickel 5/= coins were introduced in 1972, followed by scalloped, nickel-brass -/10 in 1977. This First Series coins set, in circulation from 1966 up to 1984, was designed by Christopher Ironside OBE. [2]

In 1987, nickel-plated steel replaced cupro-nickel in the -/50 and 1/=, and cupro-nickel 5/= and 10/= coins were introduced, with the 5/= decagonal in shape. In 1990, nickel-clad-steel 5/=, 10/= and 20/= were introduced, followed by brass-plated steel coins for 100/= in 1993, 50/= in 1996 and copper-nickel-zinc 200/= in 1998.

Coins currently in circulation are the 50/=, 100/=, 200/=, and 500/=. The 500/= coin was issued on 8 September 2014. [3]

Tanzanian shilling coins
ImageValueCompositionDiameterWeightThicknessEdgeIssued
Senti Tano (5 TzSh).jpg -/5bronze23.24 mm (dodecagonal)4.0 g1.33 mmSmooth1966-1984
Senti Kumi Tansania.jpg -/10nickel-brass25 mm (scalloped)5.03 g1.49 mmSmooth1977-1984
Tanzania senti ishirini front 1973.jpg
Tanzania senti ishirini back 1973.jpg
-/20nickel-brass24 mm5 gSmooth1966-1984
Tanzania senti hamsini front 1980.jpg
Tanzania senti hamsini back 1980.jpg
-/50copper-nickel21 mm4 g1.6 mmReeded1966-1984
-/50nickel-plated steel21 mm4 g1.8 mmReeded1988-1990
Tanzania shilingi moja front 1974.jpg
Tanzania shilingi moja back 1974.jpg
1/=copper-nickel27.7 mm8 g1.62 mmReeded1966-1984
Tanzania Shiling Moja.jpg 1/=nickel-plated steel23.5 mm6.5 gReeded1987-1992
Tanzania shilingi tano front 1980.jpg
Tanzania shilingi tano back 1980.jpg
5/=copper-nickel31.5 mm (decagonal)13.8 g2.2 mmSegmented; five smooth and reeded parts1972-1980
5/=copper-nickel27.5 mm (decagonal)8.3 g2 mmSegmented; five smooth and reeded parts1987-1989
5/=nickel-plated steel27.5 mm (decagonal)8.52 g2 mmReeded1990-1993
10/=copper-nickel29 mm9.7 g2 mmReeded1987-1989
10 tz shillings front.jpg
10 tz shillings back.jpg
10/=nickel-plated steel29 mm10 g2.25 mmReeded1990-1993
20/=nickel-plated steel32 mm (heptagonal)13 g2 mmSmooth1990-1992
50 Tanzanian shillings coin - Obverse.jpg
50 Tanzanian shillings coin - Reverse.jpg
50/=brass-plated steel22 mm (heptagonal)7.91 g2.9 mmSmooth1996
100 tz shillings front.jpg
Tanzania 100 shillings-2.JPG
100/=brass-plated steel24.5 mm9 g2.7 mmReeded1993
200 tz shillings front.jpg
Tanzania 200 shillings-2.JPG
200/=copper-nickel-zinc26.8 mm8 g2 mmSegmented; five smooth and reeded parts1998, 2008, 2014
500 Tanzanian shillings coin - obverse.jpg
500 Tanzanian shillings coins - reverse.jpg
500/=nickel-plated steel27.5 mm9.5 g2.4 mmReeded2014

Banknotes

On 14 June 1966, the Benki Kuu Ya Tanzania (Bank of Tanzania) introduced notes for 5/=, 10/=, 20/= and 100/=. The 5/= note was replaced by a coin in 1972. 50/= notes were introduced in 1985, followed by 200/= in 1986, 500/= in 1989 and 1,000/= in 1990. The 10/=, 20/=, 50/= and 100/= notes were replaced by coins in 1987, 1990, 1996 and 1994, respectively. 5,000/= and 10,000/= notes were introduced in 1995, followed by 2,000/= in 2003. A new series of notes came out in 2011. These new notes include many security features that prevent counterfeiting. [4] [5]

Banknotes in circulation today are 500/=, 1,000/=, 2,000/=, 5,000/= and 10,000/=

Older Series
ImageValueDimensionsMain ColourDescriptionDate of issue
ObverseReverseObverseReverseWatermark
Tzs-10-note-front.jpg Tzs-10-note-back.jpg 10/=-Green Julius Nyerere Arusha Declaration Monument Giraffe -
Tzs-20-note-front.jpg Tzs-20-note-back.jpg 20/=-Blue-violet Julius Nyerere General Tyre East Africa Plant
Tzs-100-note-front.jpg Tzs-100-note-back.jpg 100/=-Red Julius Nyerere Maasai
1997 Series [6]
ImageValueDimensionsMain ColorDescriptionDate of issueWatermark
ObverseReverse
500 /= (Shilingi Mia Tano)138 x 69 mmGreen Tanzanian coat of arms; Giraffe; Zebra Clove harvest; Uhuru Torch 1997 Giraffe
1000 /= (Shillingi Elfu Moja)142 x 71 mmRed Tanzanian coat of arms; Giraffe; African Elephant Kiwira coal mine; Door of People's Bank of Zanzibar
1000 /= (Shilingi Elfu Moja)142 x 71 mmRed Tanzanian coat of arms; Julius Nyerere; African Elephant Kiwira coal mine; Door of People's Bank of Zanzibar 2000
5000 /= (Shillingi Elfu Tano)145 x 73 mmPurple Tanzanian coat of arms; Giraffe; Rhino Giraffes; Mt Kilimanjaro 1997
10,000 /= (Shilingi Elfu Kumi)149 x 75 mmIndigo Tanzanian coat of arms; Giraffe; Lion Bank of Tanzania; "House of Wonder" (Zanzibar)
These images are to scale at 0.7 pixel per millimetre. For table standards, see the banknote specification table.
2003 Series
ImageValueDimensionsMain ColourDescriptionDate of issue
ObverseReverseObverseReverseWatermark
500 tz shillings front.jpg 500 tz shillings back.jpg 500/=130 × 63 mmGreen African Buffalo Nkrumah Hall, University of Dar es Salaam Giraffe 2003
1000 tz shillings front.jpg 1000 tz shillings back.jpg 1,000/=135 × 66 mmBlue Julius Nyerere Statehouse, Dar es Salaam
2000 tz shillings front.jpg 2000 tz shillings back.jpg 2,000/=140 × 69 mmOrange-brown Lion, Mount Kilimanjaro Old Fort, Stone Town, Zanzibar
5000 tz shillings front.jpg 5000 tz shillings back.jpg 5,000/=145 × 72 mmPurple Black Rhinoceros Geita gold Mine and House of Wonders Zanzibar
10000 tz shillings front.jpg 10000 tz shillings back.jpg 10,000/=150 × 75 mmRed Elephant Bank of Tanzania headquarters in Dar es Salaam
These images are to scale at 0.7 pixel per millimetre. For table standards, see the banknote specification table.

Currently in Circulation

2011 Series [7]
ImageValuesDimensionsMain ColourDescriptionDate of issueDate of first issueWatermark
ObverseReverseObverseReverse
TZSn00500v.jpg
TZSn00500r.jpg
500/=120 x 60 mmGreen Tanzanian coat of arms; Sheikh Abeid Amani Karume University of Dar es Salaam central hall building; graduating students wearing caps and gowns; Aesculap's rod20111 January 2010Julius Kambarage Nyerere with electrotype 500
TZSn01000v.jpg
TZSn01000r.jpg
1,000/=125 x 65 mmBlue Tanzanian coat of arms; President Julius Kambarage Nyerere; Bismarck Rock in Mwanza HarborCoffee plant; State House (Ikulu) building with flag in Dar es SalaamJulius Kambarage Nyerere with electrotype 1000
TZSn02000v.jpg
TZSn02000r.jpg
2,000/=130 x 66 mmOrange Tanzanian coat of arms; Lion Palm trees; old Omani Arab Fort (Ngome Kongwe) in Zanzibar's Stone Town; carved blockJulius Kambarage Nyerere with electrotype 2000
TZSn05000v.jpg
TZSn05000r.jpg
5,000/=135 x 67 mmPurple Tanzanian coat of arms; plant; black rhinocerosCyanid Leaching plant of the gold mines of GeitaJulius Kambarage Nyerere with electrotype 5000
TZSn10000v.jpg
TZSn10000r.jpg
10,000/=140 x 68 mmRed Tanzanian coat of arms; Elephant Flowers; Bank of Tanzania headquarters building in Dar es Salaam Julius Kambarage Nyerere with electrotype 10000
These images are to scale at 0.7 pixel per millimetre. For table standards, see the banknote specification table.
Current TZS exchange rates
From Google Finance: AUD CAD CHF CNY EUR GBP HKD JPY USD KES
From Yahoo! Finance: AUD CAD CHF CNY EUR GBP HKD JPY USD KES
From XE.com: AUD CAD CHF CNY EUR GBP HKD JPY USD KES
From OANDA: AUD CAD CHF CNY EUR GBP HKD JPY USD KES

See also

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References

Notes

  1. Linzmayer, Owen (2012). "Tanzania". The Banknote Book. San Francisco, CA: www.BanknoteNews.com.
  2. "Bank of Tanzania: Banking Operations - Currency Museum: Coins". bot-tz.org. Retrieved 2015-09-03.
  3. "Image: IMG-20140907-WA0006.jpg, (960 × 1280 px)". bot.go.tz. Retrieved 2015-09-03.
  4. Tanzania new note family confirmed BanknoteNews.com. Retrieved 2011-10-22.
  5. The Citizen. Retrieved 2011-10-22.
  6. "Bank of Tanzania Historical Notes". bot. Bank of Tanzania. Retrieved 2015-07-05.
  7. "Tanzania new note family confirmed | Africa | Banknote News". banknotenews.com. Retrieved 2015-09-03.

Sources

Preceded by:
East African shilling
Reason: currency independence
Ratio: at par
Note: independent shilling introduced in 1966, but EA shilling not demonetised until 1969
Currency of Tanzania
1966
Succeeded by:
Current